NOTIFICATION OF TESTING

Cognitive Abilities Test

Dear Parents and Guardians:

In an effort to obtain additional information about your child, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to your child between ___________________ and ___________________. It is important that your child attend school on these days, if possible. If your child must miss school during this time period and your child does not have another ability test result in their student record, they will have an opportunity to take another ability test later this fall.

The purpose of the CogAT is to provide information about students’ developed abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning. The types of tasks included in the test are based on content that children are likely to have experienced in school. However, the way questions are asked and specific test content are not necessarily what children have previously experienced. Children are not expected to know the answers to all questions and will be given opportunities to practice sample items before taking the test. The CogAT is an abilities test, so children are not expected to study or prepare for the test the way they would for an achievement test.

Score reports will be provided to parents once results become available. Typically, these reports are available before winter break. If you have any questions about this test, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), ____________________________, or school test coordinator, ____________________________, at your child's school.

NOTIFICATION AND OPT-IN FOR HOME LANGUAGE DIRECTIONS

Cognitive Abilities Test

Dear Parents and Guardians:

In an effort to obtain additional information about your child, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to your child between ___________________ and ___________________. It is important that your child attend school on these days. If your child must miss school during this time period and your child does not have another ability test result in their student record, they will have an opportunity to take another ability test later this fall.

The purpose of the CogAT is to provide information about students’ developed abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning. The types of tasks included in the test are based on content that children are likely to have experienced in school. However, the way questions are asked and specific test content are not necessarily what children have previously experienced. Children are not expected to know the answers to all questions and will be given opportunities to practice sample items before taking the test. The CogAT is an abilities test, so children are not expected to study or prepare for the test the way they would for an achievement test.

Our records show that your child has a home language other than or in addition to English. This means you have the option to have your child receive test directions in your designated home language. If you do not choose this option, your child can receive test directions in English. Please note that the test items themselves are only available in English and that some questions for grades 4-7 require the student to read in English. Your choice regarding home language test directions will not affect the language for test questions. If you would like for your child to receive CogAT test directions in a home language, please return the opt-in form below to the school or send an email with your opt-in request to _____________________________. 

Score reports will be provided to parents once results become available. Typically, these reports are available before winter break. If you have any questions about this test, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), ____________________________, or school test coordinator, ____________________________, at your child's school.

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Opt-In Form to Receive Test Directions in a Home Language

Return this form to your child’s school if you want him/her to receive CogAT directions in a home language.

I, ___________________ (parent/guardian) would like my student _____________________ (student’s name) to receive directions for the CogAT assessment in the following language:

________ English   ________ Russian   ________ Cantonese   ________ Mandarin

________ Spanish   ________ Arabic   ________ Vietnamese   ________ Somali

NOTIFICATION OF TESTING

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Third Edition

Dear Parents and Guardians:

In an effort to obtain additional information about your child, the online version of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Third Edition (NNAT3) will be administered to your child between ___________________ and ___________________. It is important that your child attend school on these days. If possible, please avoid scheduling trips or appointments that would take your child out of school during this time period. It is also important that your child has had a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast before testing.

The NNAT3 is a nonverbal measure of general intellectual ability. The test evaluates a student’s reasoning and problem-solving skills through the identification of patterns involving geometric shapes and pictorial designs. The test is designed to assess ability without requiring the student to read, write, or speak. Students are not expected to know the answers to all questions and will be given opportunities to practice sample items before taking the test. The NNAT3 is an abilities test, so children are not expected to study or prepare for the test the way they would for an achievement test.

Score reports will be provided to parents once scores become available. Typically, these reports are available several months after the test is taken. If you have any questions about this test, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), __________________________, or School Test Coordinator, __________________________, at your child's school.

DEFERRAL NOTIFICATION

ABILITY TEST

Dear Parents and Guardians:

In an effort to obtain additional information about your child, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) typically administers ability tests to all first and second graders. The school has determined that it would be best to defer this test for your child at this time.

To be considered for Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services in Virginia, only one nationally normed ability test is needed. Your child will have an alternative opportunity to take an ability test at a later time. Therefore, the decision to defer ability testing this school year will not limit any academic opportunities that are available to your child.

If you have questions about this decision, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), ____________________________, or School Test Coordinator, ____________________________, at your child's school.

When a student takes a CogAT or NNAT abilities test, families receive a custom score report with FCPS cover letter within 1-2 months of the end of the testing window. 

• The cover letter and score report are sent home from the student's school.
• Numerical scores are posted to the SIS ParentVUE Test History section.

SCORE REPORT COVER LETTER

Cognitive Abilities Test

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Your student recently took the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test measures students’ reasoning abilities in three areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. The verbal battery measures how well the student is able to learn and solve problems related to words. The quantitative battery measures your student’s ability to apply numerical concepts. The nonverbal battery assesses skills in using figures and pictures to solve problems.

Like any standardized test, the CogAT measures only some of your student’s skills, and the results represent his or her performance on the day the test was given. Therefore, these scores are only one estimate of his or her true ability. Test scores should never be used alone to make decisions about services or supports, but they can be helpful when interpreted in conjunction with other information. In Fairfax County Public Schools, CogAT results are used as one of several measures to determine Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services. 

CogAT results for your student are reported on the enclosed Profile Narrative. The Profile Narrative also includes an explanation about the test. The first paragraph offers an overview of the test. A second paragraph describes your student’s performance compared to other students who took the test nationally. This paragraph also offers recommendations on how to use information from the test to encourage further development in your student. The last paragraph gives details about the age and grade used for score comparisons. Here are some specialized terms you will find on the Profile Narrative report.

• Composite Scores show an overall picture of performance based on your student’s pattern of scores across all three batteries (verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal).
• Age Scores show your student’s performance compared to a nationally representative sample of students approximately the same.  
• Raw Scores show the number of test items your student attempted and the number of test items your student answered correctly out of the total number of items in each battery.
• Grade Scores show your student’s performance compared to a nationally representative sample of students in the same grade.
• Standard Age Scores (SAS) show your student’s raw score is converted to a consistent scale. SAS range from 50 to 160, with 100 being the midpoint.
• Stanines show your student’s performance on a standardized scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest), with the 5th stanine being the midpoint.
• Percentile Ranks (PR) indicate the percentage of students in the same group (age, local, or grade) whose scores fall below the score your student received. PRs range from a low of 1 to a high of 99. For example, a PR of 45 would mean that your student performed as well as, or better than, 45 percent of the students in the comparison group.

If you have questions about this score report, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), ____________________________, or School Test Coordinator, ____________________________, at your student's school.

SCORE REPORT COVER LETTER 

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Third Edition

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Your child recently took the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Third Edition (NNAT3). The NNAT3 is a brief nonverbal measure of general cognitive ability and does not require the student to read, write, or speak.

Like any standardized test, the NNAT3 measures only some of your child’s skills, and the results represent his or her performance on the day the test was given. Therefore, these scores are only one estimate of his or her true ability. Test scores should never be used alone to make decisions about services or supports, but they can be helpful when interpreted in conjunction with other information. In Fairfax County Public Schools, NNAT3 results are used as one of several measures to determine Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services.

NNAT3 results for your child are reported on the attached Student Report. Here are some specialized terms you will find on the Student Report.

• The Naglieri Ability Index (NAI) shows your child’s performance compared to a nationally representative sample of students approximately the same age. The NAI range is from 50 to 160, with 100 being the midpoint. 
• Raw Scores show the number of test items your child answered correctly out of the total number of items on the test. 
• Scaled Scores show your child’s raw score converted to a consistent scale. 
• Stanines show your child’s performance on a standardized scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest), with the 5th stanine being the midpoint. 
• Percentile Ranks (PR) indicate the percentage of students approximately same age whose scores fall below the score your child received. PRs range from a low of 1 to a high of 99. For example, a PR of 45 would mean your child performed as well as, or better than, 45 percent of the students who took the test nationally. 
• The Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) converts your child’s score to a scale from 0 to 100 similar to a PR, but with equal intervals between each score.

If you have questions about this score report, please contact the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), ____________________________, or School Test Coordinator, ____________________________, at your child's school.